Paramount Theatre
241 N. Main Street,
Barre,
VT
05641
241 N. Main Street,
Barre,
VT
05641
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FGB Theaters (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: M & P Theaters, Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: J.C. Hartman
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Park Theatre
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A movie theatre in the center of Barre, Vermont. The Park Theatre was opened on March 28, 1921 with House Peters in “Lying Lips”. It was a single screen theatre with 1,000 seats. In 1932 it was renamed Paramount Theatre and the seating capacity was increased to 1,161. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Mullins & Pinanski. It was twinned on February 20, 1981.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Paramount Theatre seated 1161 people.
I saw theatre in 1989 while looking for a different Paramount which quite another lenghty story. Anyway, this theatre had been twined. Sorry, might notes don’t tell me much else except the person who was telling me all about the theatre said, “It’s the only Paramount in Vermont.” I guess he didn’t travel much because I knew of at least one other in Vermont at that time — it being the Paramount in Brattleboro
The Barre Paramount’s entrance is in a small, two-story business block built in 1904. A theatre, called the Park, was built in back of the block in 1915. This burned in March 1920; the older building in front survived. A new Park was built on the same location in 1921; its name was changed to the Paramount in 1932. The theatre was renovated for two screens in 1981. On September 30th, 1955, Shirley MacLaine and Alfred Hitchcock attended the world premiere of “The Trouble with Harry” at the Paramount in Barre.
The Barre Paramount is definately still open. I’ll take a photo for when the “add a photo” is back up. The website for the Paramount & the Capitol (in Montpelier) is http://fgbtheaters.com/, though it unfortunately doesn’t list anything but show times & prices.
Sad story, at that premiere, Alfred Hitchcock signed the wall at the Paramount. The signature was painted over during renovation :(
I stumbled across a beautiful original neon PARAMOUNT sign at an antique shop in Lynn MA recently (on display only..not for sale)…thinking that it may have come from the Paramount in Lynn MA, I was informed by the proprietor that it came from Paramount in Vermont..Brattleboro he thought. If ‘add-a-photo" ever comes back to this site, i’ll take a pic and post it..
Hello! Does anyone have interior and exterior pictures of the Paramount Theatre in Barre, Vermont before modernization destroyed it? I grew up in Barre and attended many Saturday afternoons at this theatre. The interior was a sight to behold with its orchestra pit, overhead balcony, and cathedral sconces which lined the exterior walls. If you do have pictures, please send an e-mail to Thanks!
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Paramount, it’s Card # 568. Address is North Main St. There is an exterior photo taken April 1941 (nice marquee!)Condition is Good. The theatre was over 15 years old and was showing MGM films. There were 727 seats on the main floor and 434 in the balcony, total 1,161. Competing theaters were the Opera House and the Magnet, but, for some reason, a report was not prepared for the Opera House. The 1940 population of Barre was 10,900.
Architected by its owner J.C. Hartman, the $100,000 Park opened in 1921. A Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones organ was there at opening along with Simplex projectors.
The Park Theatre opened on March 28, 1921 with “Lying Lips” starring House Peters and Florence Vidor.
Twinned on February 20, 1981.